Electronic device and method for detecting proximity input and touch input

Abstract

A method for detecting an input in an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a non-contact proximity input by an input unit at a plurality of points on a screen that is functionally connected to the electronic device, calculating a change in distance from the input unit in response to movement detected by the input unit, for each of the plurality of detected points, and determining at least one of the plurality of points as an input point by the input unit using the calculated change.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting an input in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 detecting a deformation of a flexible screen that is connected to the electronic device; 
 activating at least one detection line that is formed on the flexible screen to detect the input by an input unit, in response to the detected deformation; 
 detecting a non-contact proximity input by the input unit at a plurality of points on the flexible screen on which the at least one detection line is activated; 
 calculating a change in distance from the input unit in response to movement detected by the input unit, for each of the plurality of detected points; 
 determining at least one point on the flexible screen as the non-contact proximity input point by the input unit in descending order of the calculated each of the plurality of change; 
 setting a specific region on the flexible screen in association with the plurality of determined points; and 
 determining, if the set specific region is touched by the input unit, the touch by the input unit by first detecting the set specific region. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating a distance between the flexible screen and the input unit, for each of the plurality of points. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change is calculated based on a moving distance of the input unit during a time difference between a time at which the input unit was detected and a time after a specific time has elapsed. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the screen comprises:
 a flexible screen that is freely deformable, and 
 a detection line formed on the flexible screen, and 
 
 wherein the detection line is configured to detect whether the input is activated or inactivated in response to the deformation. 
 
     
     
       5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting the input by the input unit; 
 determining whether the input is within the specific region; and 
 determining, if the input is not within the specific region, a point at which the input is input to be an input point. 
 
     
     
       7. An electronic device for detecting an input, the electronic device comprising:
 a flexible screen configured to detect the input by an input unit; and 
 a controller configured to:
 detect a deformation of the flexible screen that is connected to the electronic device, 
 activate at least one detection line that is formed on the flexible screen to detect the input by the input unit, in response to the detected deformation, 
 detect a non-contact proximity input by the input unit at a plurality of points on the flexible screen on which the at least one detection line is activated, 
 calculate a change in distance from the input unit in response to movement detected by the input unit, for each of the plurality of determined points, 
 determine at least one point on the flexible screen as the non-contact proximity input point by the input unit in descending order of the calculated each of the plurality of change, 
 set a specific region on the flexible screen in association with the plurality of determined points, and 
 determine, if the set specific region is touched by the input unit, the touch by the input unit by first detecting the set specific region. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate or inactivate the formed detection line according to a degree of the deformation of the flexible screen. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to calculate in real time a distance between the flexible screen and the input unit in response to movement detected by the input unit on the flexible screen. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the input is within the region, and 
 determine, if the input is determined not to be within the region, a point at which the input is input to be an input point.